I am over the moon. Just bought a mint condition silent super for quite cheap. They're not easy to find here in Argentina, and it even has a Spanish keyboard! It's grimy as hell on the inside but it looks almost brand new. Even the rubber feet are still soft. No signs of rust anywhere. Tomorrow after work I'll take it off its shell and give it a proper clean, and then use it to continue the story I'm working on!
I have this exact same typewriter. Of the three that I own, it is by far the least attractive and yet it is the machine that I use the most by far. The design is incredibly user friendly. Everything is right in the exact spot you want it to be and the rise of the keyboard is perfect. Plus I agree that the carriage return is positioned very nicely for real work. When I reach for it I don't even look up. My eye never leaves the page. I've been tempted a few times to get mine custom painted to make it a bit more attractive but in the end I think I'll just keep it the original colors. I kind of think of my Silent like I would and old Chevy truck. Nobody is ever going to swoon over its looks, but it gets the job done reliably and comfortably without compromise.
I own somewhere between 15-20 typers. Mostly I use them to type up quotes that I sell on cardstock. I had been using an older Royal Model O, until the drawband broke. Reaching into the closet, I grabbed the case for my SC Super Silent and set it up. I was surprised to see how nice it typed! Very smooth and easy. No skipped spaces (an issue I had fought with on my old Royal) or other issues. I still kind of miss my Royal and hope to fix that drawband issue soon, but I might just keep using the Super Silent since it's just so easy to type on.
Duane Jensen of Pheonix Typewriter here on youtube has a tutorial for replacing the drawband on a Royal O. I have two Corona Silents, and a ‘36 O. I like the Royal better, it is a lot snappier than either corona. You also have to type with a certain finness on the older Royals. Strike them as though they are white hot. Quick. Light. Not lingering on the keys. Also, as a final note, I replaced my o’s drawband using the method of Duane Jensen.
Thank you, Joe. I just bought on of these this afternoon and your guide was very useful. I paid very little for mine and it is in beautiful condition. Looking forward to getting some good use from it. A great series of videos.
The colors are what drew me to mine! I loved the forest, sage, & mint shades of green on the keys & other details. I like that the main body of machine is neutral so those colored keys really pop. But I also tend to be drawn to chartreuse & similar colors that resemble bodily fluids, so what do I know? 😝
The "Silent" was my family's machine, which I learned to type with in the 1950s. It withstood my grade-schooler abuse and continued to perform flawlessly through high school. My parent sent me off to college with its descendant, an SCM Classic 12, which was a tiny bit rougher around the edges and much more difficult to clean and maintain. If you find one in good shape at a decent price, grab it (whatever the color).
I just got my first typewriter because I would like to try writing and the computer is too distracting. I got this model refurbished, and your video is so deeply helpful as I try to learn the thing. Thank you!
Thanks for this review…quite helpful…I have a 1952 Silent and use it everyday. You showed me features I did not know about! BTW, what attracted me to this Silent was the colors…so beautifully understated.
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This is wonderful! How beautiful is this type writer! Simply amazing!
Thank you for this video, Joe! I just inherited one of these from my grandmother (who was such a talented writer) and I really appreciate you teaching me how to use it!
I typed on one of these. The colors were typical in the 50s. My first bike was in the colors of the keys, very popular then (I wanted bright red!). The touch was wonderful. Typing tables on this was very difficult. The lines could be drawn on the paper with the triangle, but setting the tabs wasn't fun. I don't remember having to pull them off with pliers; I seem to remember that there was some type of lever or doodad back there that made it easier to pull them out, but, still, figuring out where to put them was time-consuming. We usually just typed a test sheet, measured the length, drew lines on our final paper, and typed data in. Ugh.. I also remember typing on a Royal at my aunt's office and I was allowed to do the delicate job of re-inking the typewriter ribbons! Talk about a messy job! Thanks for these videos.
I just got a 'powder blue' Silent Super. It works very well despite the previous owner practically soaking the mechanism with typewriter oil. I may have spent nearly an hour with my small compressor blowing it out and wiping with paper towels. I removed the body panels and platen easily enough before blowing it out. The platen is fine, but I cleaned the body panels with Greased Lightning (didn't have Simple Green on hand). That said, the paint job has seen better days, and I have thought about giving it a new paint job. Still, there's something to be said about keeping it just the way it is, clean but clearly well used.
Hi Joe - Tim here in Nj - just tipping my toe in The Typosphere- your videos are enormously interesting, well produced and helpful - just acquired a nice 1954 Skyriter (one year older than me) - needs some new rubber pads for the under chassis but good to go other than that - thanks again for the great work.
Thank you so much for video. I bought one of these.. well a super silent... from ebay that was for charity. I think i paid $60 for it. I was looking for a typewriter to buy and i was told that if you have to only own one, the smith corona silent is the one to buy. Thanks so much again, you have showed me how to use some of the chrome levers.
Thank you so much. I just bought one for $20 at a swap meet on a whim. It looks very similar to this one but now that I've seen your video I'll need to go to my shop and see if there is a name inside. I doubt it has ever been cleaned and the line of text comes out uneven so I'll have to play with it a bit to get it working better. I hope to type my poetry on it to post to places like Instagram and Tumblr so the info about adjusting the line spacing was very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share all that.
I hope I am able to step into the world of typewriters, but since I'm 15 (at the time of writing), I require my parents to act for me, and I really hope that things tip into my favor. It seems as if they absolutely will, but you never know when it will slip away. I happen to be on the path of owning a Smith-Corona, whether it will be a silent or a sterling seems to be away from me, but I will get either one (one can only hope so desperately). I am already practicing two finger typing on my normal computer. Btw that is one sweet typewriter, the video is playing in the background and I aspire to be a writer! There is an inexplicable feeling of joy when I think of the prospect of writing. I really don't care about the waiting time for the outcome, I really want to know whether or not I will own a typewriter or not
Sarim I am of that age too. I got my first last year. Here’s some tips and stuff: I started with an electric smith from the 80’s. I saw it on Craigslist and bought it the night I did. I have learned everything I know about typewriters just from experience of the machines and research. If you want to buy on somewhere, then I recommend talking to people at school. Lots of people I’ve talked to when I bring my machines to school say, that’s a cool typewriter! Can you fix mine? I have one. So just ask people that you are near sometimes, or just save up for one. Also, writing. I typed for a while with only two fingers. But when I got a manual machine. I learned touch typing by repetition. What I do I type sentences with all of the letters of the alphabet for weeks on end, and then my finger dexterity and finger placement memory have helped me learn it. I had 3 years of computer science. They tried to teach me how to touch type. It didn’t work because all of the keys were the same. But now that I’ve typed on typewriters I can. If you are looking like a good machine, get an L.C. Smith and corona machine. Like the one in this video. If you want, get an SCM machine, but those are less well made than the older machines. Speaking from experience, remingtons are cheaply made, and have bad touch, but are quiet, Royals are very well made, but hard to care for, Olympia’s are awesome to use, but are delicate. Hermes are very good machines but have some issues that aren’t easily fixable, Underwoods are fantastic looking but also delicate and open. Here’s some tips for convincing your parents to get one. .they improve your grades and spelling .you can earn money from fixing them .they teach you to type .they can be dirt cheap .time away from screens
I just got one from Ebay and it is surprisingly great. My fingers feel weird typing on my MacBook Air keyboards after doing a practice run on mine lol ;)
Just saw the excellent "California Typewriter" documentary at the Boulder International Film Festival the other day, plugged in my mid-70s 2200 electric when I got home, decided to check out the market for a manual typewriter. Thank you for helpful generic insight on SCM machines of this era. Please, oh ,please, let me not become one of those fanatical typewriter collectors. (;-) (;-) Peace.
Hello Joe, I enjoy your videos. You mentioned the "drab" paint scheme on this Corona Silent. With your very creative and artistic bend on things, have you thought about giving any of your typewriters a new custom paint job like any old car would get, to spruce it up? I would hesitate to do it on this one in the video as there's no big scuffs or dents, but using as an example, since the keys would have to stay green, I think a good complimenting color would be silver for the body panels, and green for the accent stripes on the ribbon holder as well as the decals.The space bar and platen rollers would be a challenge, as well as any non-embossed markings or labels like the white numbering on the carriage that appears to be painted on--that could probably be done with a stencil though (dark green or black). Anyway, a thought to consider if you have any in rough shape. Another neat thought is every time you visit a restaurant or coffee shop or other venue to do your typing--grab stickers where possible and stick them on the typewriter case, or the body of the typewriter itself. Now you've got little memories of where the machine has been. A story on a story maker.
@@Joe_VanCleave another idea might be to take photos of the places it's been and print them to adhesive photo paper which could then be affixed to the case. I was thinking about replacing what currently appears to look like ugly wallpaper on my wooden case, but sticking photos on it would give it more character and still keep the underlying original "charm".
Sadly, my receipts all fade to naught within a year or so. I generally type a little note and keep it in the case. BTW, I love these machines. The touch is lovely AND the Sterling version has a role in my one of my fave episodes of Deep Space Nine :)
I love mine but in an ideal world I would change the platen rubber (can't as live in UK and nobody does it here) and the relationship between the anvil and platen is slightly off. This means the hammers hit the platen a little too early so its a bit noisy. I slid some plastic templates behind the removable anvil and it helped a little. I can't figure out how to move the carriage back.
I just got a Smith-Corona Silent today, and I'm so happy to have it! I agree, the colours are very unappealing for most aesthetics, so I will be painting mine. The one I have works really nicely but it has a fair amount of wear to the paint which makes it more justifiable to customize. I wouldn't feel as free to paint a typewriter if it was in perfect condition or a rare model. But fortunately this one is relatively common and could use a new paint job anyways.
Hey Joe! Always like your videos :) One question: You know the @ key? I wonder when were the 1st typewriters made with that @ key? And it appears they are more often on QWERTY typewriters than AZERTY typewriters. At least I what seen yet an AZERTY typewriter with that key. Do you onow why? Regards and greetings from Brussels, Belgium ;)
Anyone know where to get one of these? Have looked online and I cannot find one in relatively good condition, and/or a reasonable price... any help would be appreciated, would really like one of these machines.
Joe, I am getting one in great shape but I think it needs a little lubrication to make the carriage move easier. What do you recommend and do you have a video on how to lubricate a typewrite?
I don't yet have a video on the entire process of servicing a typewriter. The type bar slots (called the segment) need to be thoroughly degreased so they operate smoothly without lubrication. Same with the part that lifts the ribbon (called the ribbon vibrator), it needs to be cleaned so it moves freely without lubrication. The carriage rails and bearings need to be degreased and lubricated with light oil like sewing machine oil. Don't over-lubricate a typewriter, it may work in the short term, but the aromatic solvents in many synthetic lubricants will eventually evaporate, and the remaining grease will thicken up and attract dust and grease. And don't use WD40, it's designed for wet environments (water displacement formula 40). See Phoenix Typewriter UA-cam channel for some great maintenance-oriented typewriter videos.
Thank you for this video! I received one that looks identical to this for my birthday yesterday. I found the model number under the ribbon lid, but not the serial number? Can you direct me to where I might find that?
In the 1950 era Silents the serial number should be under the ribbon cover near the left side where the touch adjustment is located. If not there, it could be somewhere near the carriage rails.
Thank you Joe for this informative video! My friend gave me this typewriter for free granted the outer 3 pieces are rusted and disassembled (but I have the small screws). Where your machine says “SILENT” mines says “Sterling”, but besides that they seem to be the same according to your video. I am not sure how to change my ribbon and should I just buy ribbon from amazon?
Recently bought one and I'm completely new to typewriters. , my ribbon seems to be pretty old, is there a specific type I need to purchase or are they universal? Picked it up for $50 seemed like a good price to me.
Thank you for your reply. The carriage moves back and forth perfectly and the shift, tab and space bar all work. The issue is that none of the keys swing forward. They are all aligned and in place. The machine is well kept and clean. It just seems that there may be a lock on the keys themselves which prevents them from swinging forward to type.
I don't know of such a locking mechanism. I just checked my Galaxie 12 and can't get the keys to lock. I can only surmise that either the universal bar under the machine is seized, or the type bars in the segment are seized with hardened lubricants, or perhaps something sticky was spilled in it and left to dry.
Also, the ribbon spool and ribbon vibrator mechanisms are both driven from the universal bar. Perhaps one of them is seized up. If you remove the ribbon spools, do either spool shaft turn freely? For the ribbon vibrator, does it help if you set the ribbon color to the white stencil position?
Hi Joe, LOVE your videos. I wonder if you could help me identify my Smith Corona. The machine actually says "Super Silent" but the serial number indicates it is a Sterling 1958-59. However, my typewriter has a tabulator button and paper arms which are not on a Sterling. (Confusing). To make it even more confusing, every machine like mine I've looked at has those 3 lines on each side of the ribbon cover like yours does above. Mine does not have those lines. Can you help?
I think I fixed it. I just cleaned it and used a little PTFE lubricant on the vibrator and worked it for a bit. Now it seems to be just fine. I just got this one toda! 1954 Silent all green keys and knobs. Looks perfect, but it did not work when I got it this morning. Now it's typing, but I am having a few issues to work on. I tried to find that Repair Bible you had in your video where you discussed the escapement issue on yours, but haven't seen it yet. Love your channel!
Check the line spacing lever on the left side of the carriage, also there’s a lever next to it that temporarily disengages the line spacing, make sure it’s engaged. Finally, the metal button in the center of the left platen knob should be pushed in, else the line spacing clutch will be disengaged.
I bought a typewriter that looks very much like this but it is a sears brand. I was told that it was a smith corona rebranded. I can't figure out how to get the ribbon on. None of the videos I've seen look like mine. I can't find a place to hook the ribbon onto the vibrator. Can you please help me?
Is the ribbon vibrator intact? It's the part that raises the ribbon up when you type. The ribbon goes behind the two central vertical parts of the vibrator, closest to the paper, then through those slots in the outer parts of the vibrator. Hard to describe in words.
I think there may be something missing because I dont see any slots on the vibrator to put the ribbon through. Im going to take it to a typewriter repair shop. Thanks for your help.
Hey I need help with my SCM Smith - Corona, I've rotated the ribbon so it's now no longer dry but the pedals aren't reaching the paper??? They get about an inch from the paper.... Can/how can I fix this????
1)Make sure you aren’t all the way at the right margin stop, that can cause the type bars not to fully move. 2) Make sure the carriage centering lock isn’t engaged, you should be able to move the carriage back and forth between the margin stops by using the carriage release levers (behind either platen knob). 3) Try pressing a key, then carefully by hand lift the type bar and you should be able to manually move it all the way to the print position with little or no resistance. If it doesn’t move all the way, something is obstructing the movement, or something has been bent or misaligned.
Hi Joe, you seem to be typing effortlessly on this machine. On my 1956 Smith-Corona Sterling, which I cleaned, it feels quite hard to type (but I'm a novice). The type bars go up very easily up to an inch or so of the platen but need extra pressure to strike, and that's what makes it hard. Is that typical to need this extra pressure, or should the type bars go all the way smoothly, as yours seem to be doing? If so I'm wondering which part should be cleaned further, or even lubricated.
Try adjusting the touch selector which, IIRC, is under the ribbon cover on the left front edge. But usually these need thorough cleaning and degreasing, especially the slots in the segment, but also the universal bar that runs cross-wise to the linkages under the machine. Every type linkage presses this spring-loaded bar, which in turn operates the ribbon lift and ribbon advancement. If anything in those systems is hard to operate, you'll feel it in the keys. Therefore, I'd advise degreasing the ribbon lifter linkages, the ribbon spool turning mechanism, and the pivot points on the universal bar itself. Basically, anything that's moved by the force of the key action could be the cause -- often, it's a combination of all of them being a little stiff. There's also the fact that manual typing doesn't use the same muscles as keyboarding, it requires a snappy touch -- the velocity of the type bar is important to a good imprint. Therefore I'd advise using a two-fingered typing technique, since most of us don't have fingers strong enough to rapidly touch-type on these kinds of machines; that's a skill learned only through repeated exercise. Good luck with your machine.
Thanks, Joe! I,m learning so much from your vid's. I love the color of this era Corona's, I,m having a problem deciding betwen this machine, and the 1960 Torpedo 18, do you have any suggestions?Thanks again!
I haven't tried a Torpedo 18 - they're rarer than the Smith-Coronas. For that reason I'd be tempted to go with one, even as good as the Smiths are. If you're not satisfied, you can still find a SC Silent down the road. No harm in having more than one machine, right?!
One thing that struck me right away was the "BROWNISH" coloring of the space bar. I've NEVER seen that on any other machine.Could it have been "customized" by order of the owner?
I'm no typewriter expert, but I'm almost positive that the brown space bar (and perfectly matching brown platen knobs) came that way from the factory. I really doubt they were repainted by the owner; they just don't have that "repainted" look.
On many manual typewriters, if the typing position is at the right margin it will prevent the keys from working. The right margin could be set inward toward the middle, causing this problem. Try resetting the right margin to the far right, or also try pressing the margin release (M.R.) key to release it. Also, if the carriage lock is engaged this could also be the cause.
Hello, I just picked up one of these at a estate sale this would be my first typewriter cant wait to use it but it needs a cleaning could you tell me what i should use on it some say mineral spirits other degreaser, alcohol want to make the right choice Thank you for any help
Start with 91% alcohol, if it needs more thorough degreasing then use lacquer thinner. Be careful not to splatter these solvents on the paint or plastic parts. Cover them with rags. Use an air compressor to blow out the solvent onto a rag under the machine, the idea being to dissolve the gunk and carry it away with the solvent before it evaporates. Good luck!
Yes, still has a margin bell. I think the differences between the Silent/Silent-Super and others in the 5 series, in terms of sound, were minimal. I suspect more of a marketing ploy.
This was misnomer wasn't it? As far as I know... NO TYPEWRITER RUNS COMPLETELY "SILENTLY". Quite the opposite in fact! It might make less of a "CLICKETY-CLACKING" noise but it WON'T be "silent". If it was engineered well? If it had a real "heft" to it? If it had a bit of internal foam insulation? That might dampen the operational sound a bit but "SILENT"??? NOPE!!!
No, SILENT is not a “misnomer” - it’s merely a name. Smith-Corona wanted folks to know this machine was QUIETER than many competing typewriters, so the copywriter was tasked with the job of coming up with a simple name that would convey that. Obviously, the “Smith-Corona QUIETER” or “Smith-Corona Not Quite As Loud” would be poor names, so SILENT it is. In marketing, names are often NOT literal; they’re just names. The Eastern Airlines “WhisperJet” made quite a lot of noise, “touchless car washes” do, in fact, touch your car (but not as much as the other kind), and baseball’s “Shoeless Joe” Jackson usually wore shoes. Get it now?
Why, why, why do people talk when they do a typing test on a typewriter showcase video. Good video, but dayum I just wanna hear the machine in action, give me your thoughts any other time!
I bought this model last fall and am very happy with it. Thanks for making this video…I learned a few things that are going to help.
I just got one of these for $20 at a yard sale! Thanks for this video it really helped me figure out what all the levers and keys are for.
May 2022-I just picked up one of these at a thrift store for $17. It's in the carrying case and is in nearly new condition. I love it!!
I am over the moon. Just bought a mint condition silent super for quite cheap. They're not easy to find here in Argentina, and it even has a Spanish keyboard! It's grimy as hell on the inside but it looks almost brand new. Even the rubber feet are still soft. No signs of rust anywhere. Tomorrow after work I'll take it off its shell and give it a proper clean, and then use it to continue the story I'm working on!
I just got this typewriter at a local antique shop, so glad I found it!
Very thorough tour!
I have this exact same typewriter. Of the three that I own, it is by far the least attractive and yet it is the machine that I use the most by far. The design is incredibly user friendly. Everything is right in the exact spot you want it to be and the rise of the keyboard is perfect. Plus I agree that the carriage return is positioned very nicely for real work. When I reach for it I don't even look up. My eye never leaves the page. I've been tempted a few times to get mine custom painted to make it a bit more attractive but in the end I think I'll just keep it the original colors. I kind of think of my Silent like I would and old Chevy truck. Nobody is ever going to swoon over its looks, but it gets the job done reliably and comfortably without compromise.
I hope that Smith-Corona typewriters never go out of style.
I own somewhere between 15-20 typers. Mostly I use them to type up quotes that I sell on cardstock. I had been using an older Royal Model O, until the drawband broke. Reaching into the closet, I grabbed the case for my SC Super Silent and set it up. I was surprised to see how nice it typed! Very smooth and easy. No skipped spaces (an issue I had fought with on my old Royal) or other issues. I still kind of miss my Royal and hope to fix that drawband issue soon, but I might just keep using the Super Silent since it's just so easy to type on.
Duane Jensen of Pheonix Typewriter here on youtube has a tutorial for replacing the drawband on a Royal O. I have two Corona Silents, and a ‘36 O. I like the Royal better, it is a lot snappier than either corona. You also have to type with a certain finness on the older Royals. Strike them as though they are white hot. Quick. Light. Not lingering on the keys. Also, as a final note, I replaced my o’s drawband using the method of Duane Jensen.
Thank you, Joe. I just bought on of these this afternoon and your guide was very useful. I paid very little for mine and it is in beautiful condition. Looking forward to getting some good use from it. A great series of videos.
The colors are what drew me to mine! I loved the forest, sage, & mint shades of green on the keys & other details. I like that the main body of machine is neutral
so those colored keys really pop. But I also
tend to be drawn to chartreuse & similar colors that resemble bodily fluids, so what do I know? 😝
The "Silent" was my family's machine, which I learned to type with in the 1950s. It withstood my grade-schooler abuse and continued to perform flawlessly through high school. My parent sent me off to college with its descendant, an SCM Classic 12, which was a tiny bit rougher around the edges and much more difficult to clean and maintain.
If you find one in good shape at a decent price, grab it (whatever the color).
John Young
cool ! thanks for taking the time to post such a well written & straight to the point comment .
I got one like this today on Facebook marketplace that has the vertical cursive font. I was surprised when I put a sheet of paper in and saw that
These are great, inexpensive workhorses. I am very fond of my Tower President re-brand.
I really like the feel of this machine. Very snappy. I use mine more often than the rest of my collection.
I just got my first typewriter because I would like to try writing and the computer is too distracting. I got this model refurbished, and your video is so deeply helpful as I try to learn the thing. Thank you!
Thank you Joe for explaining all of the buttons. I wish I had the original Super Silent owners manual. Your video answered many many questions!!
machinesoflovinggrace.com/manuals/Smith-CoronaSuper5PortablesManual.pdf
Thanks for this review…quite helpful…I have a 1952 Silent and use it everyday. You showed me features I did not know about! BTW, what attracted me to this Silent was the colors…so beautifully understated.
This is wonderful! How beautiful is this type writer! Simply amazing!
Thank you for this video, Joe! I just inherited one of these from my grandmother (who was such a talented writer) and I really appreciate you teaching me how to use it!
Great video, just purchased one of these and look forward to using it. Your detailed video was and is an excellent reference for this. Thank you.
Thanks, I just got one for Christmas, this was very helpful.
I typed on one of these. The colors were typical in the 50s. My first bike was in the colors of the keys, very popular then (I wanted bright red!). The touch was wonderful. Typing tables on this was very difficult. The lines could be drawn on the paper with the triangle, but setting the tabs wasn't fun. I don't remember having to pull them off with pliers; I seem to remember that there was some type of lever or doodad back there that made it easier to pull them out, but, still, figuring out where to put them was time-consuming. We usually just typed a test sheet, measured the length, drew lines on our final paper, and typed data in. Ugh.. I also remember typing on a Royal at my aunt's office and I was allowed to do the delicate job of re-inking the typewriter ribbons! Talk about a messy job! Thanks for these videos.
This was so helpful! Thank you ever so much.
This is so helpful! Thank you!
Thank you for this, Joe! It helped me to know better on what are the details of my Grandpop's typewriter!
I just got a 'powder blue' Silent Super. It works very well despite the previous owner practically soaking the mechanism with typewriter oil. I may have spent nearly an hour with my small compressor blowing it out and wiping with paper towels. I removed the body panels and platen easily enough before blowing it out. The platen is fine, but I cleaned the body panels with Greased Lightning (didn't have Simple Green on hand). That said, the paint job has seen better days, and I have thought about giving it a new paint job. Still, there's something to be said about keeping it just the way it is, clean but clearly well used.
Hi Joe - Tim here in Nj - just tipping my toe in The Typosphere- your videos are enormously interesting, well produced and helpful - just acquired a nice 1954 Skyriter (one year older than me) - needs some new rubber pads for the under chassis but good to go other than that - thanks again for the great work.
Thank you so much for video. I bought one of these.. well a super silent... from ebay that was for charity. I think i paid $60 for it. I was looking for a typewriter to buy and i was told that if you have to only own one, the smith corona silent is the one to buy. Thanks so much again, you have showed me how to use some of the chrome levers.
Thank you so much. I just bought one for $20 at a swap meet on a whim. It looks very similar to this one but now that I've seen your video I'll need to go to my shop and see if there is a name inside. I doubt it has ever been cleaned and the line of text comes out uneven so I'll have to play with it a bit to get it working better.
I hope to type my poetry on it to post to places like Instagram and Tumblr so the info about adjusting the line spacing was very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share all that.
Good luck, please share some of your poetry when you get it working.
Featured in Naked Lunch masquerading as Clark Nova.
I hope I am able to step into the world of typewriters, but since I'm 15 (at the time of writing), I require my parents to act for me, and I really hope that things tip into my favor. It seems as if they absolutely will, but you never know when it will slip away. I happen to be on the path of owning a Smith-Corona, whether it will be a silent or a sterling seems to be away from me, but I will get either one (one can only hope so desperately). I am already practicing two finger typing on my normal computer.
Btw that is one sweet typewriter, the video is playing in the background and I aspire to be a writer! There is an inexplicable feeling of joy when I think of the prospect of writing. I really don't care about the waiting time for the outcome, I really want to know whether or not I will own a typewriter or not
Sarim I am of that age too. I got my first last year. Here’s some tips and stuff: I started with an electric smith from the 80’s. I saw it on Craigslist and bought it the night I did. I have learned everything I know about typewriters just from experience of the machines and research. If you want to buy on somewhere, then I recommend talking to people at school. Lots of people I’ve talked to when I bring my machines to school say, that’s a cool typewriter! Can you fix mine? I have one. So just ask people that you are near sometimes, or just save up for one.
Also, writing. I typed for a while with only two fingers. But when I got a manual machine. I learned touch typing by repetition. What I do I type sentences with all of the letters of the alphabet for weeks on end, and then my finger dexterity and finger placement memory have helped me learn it. I had 3 years of computer science. They tried to teach me how to touch type. It didn’t work because all of the keys were the same. But now that I’ve typed on typewriters I can.
If you are looking like a good machine, get an L.C. Smith and corona machine. Like the one in this video. If you want, get an SCM machine, but those are less well made than the older machines. Speaking from experience, remingtons are cheaply made, and have bad touch, but are quiet, Royals are very well made, but hard to care for, Olympia’s are awesome to use, but are delicate. Hermes are very good machines but have some issues that aren’t easily fixable, Underwoods are fantastic looking but also delicate and open.
Here’s some tips for convincing your parents to get one.
.they improve your grades and spelling
.you can earn money from fixing them
.they teach you to type
.they can be dirt cheap
.time away from screens
Thank you for such a detailed video. I just placed a bid for this machine on a whim. Now I am hoping I actually win!
I just got one from Ebay and it is surprisingly great. My fingers feel weird typing on my MacBook Air keyboards after doing a practice run on mine lol ;)
Just saw the excellent "California Typewriter" documentary at the Boulder International Film Festival the other day, plugged in my mid-70s 2200 electric when I got home, decided to check out the market for a manual typewriter. Thank you for helpful generic insight on SCM machines of this era. Please, oh ,please, let me not become one of those fanatical typewriter collectors. (;-) (;-) Peace.
You might already have been bitten by the typewriter bug! The only cure is collecting and using as many as you can!
Hoo-boy do I know that feeling! "I got a fever, and the only prescription is _Mör Köwbêll_!" --Bruce Dickenson
It's on Netflix now.
Hello Joe, I enjoy your videos. You mentioned the "drab" paint scheme on this Corona Silent. With your very creative and artistic bend on things, have you thought about giving any of your typewriters a new custom paint job like any old car would get, to spruce it up? I would hesitate to do it on this one in the video as there's no big scuffs or dents, but using as an example, since the keys would have to stay green, I think a good complimenting color would be silver for the body panels, and green for the accent stripes on the ribbon holder as well as the decals.The space bar and platen rollers would be a challenge, as well as any non-embossed markings or labels like the white numbering on the carriage that appears to be painted on--that could probably be done with a stencil though (dark green or black). Anyway, a thought to consider if you have any in rough shape.
Another neat thought is every time you visit a restaurant or coffee shop or other venue to do your typing--grab stickers where possible and stick them on the typewriter case, or the body of the typewriter itself. Now you've got little memories of where the machine has been. A story on a story maker.
Great ideas. I'm not a painting expert, especially with textured finishes like on these machines, but I really like the sticker idea for the case.
@@Joe_VanCleave another idea might be to take photos of the places it's been and print them to adhesive photo paper which could then be affixed to the case. I was thinking about replacing what currently appears to look like ugly wallpaper on my wooden case, but sticking photos on it would give it more character and still keep the underlying original "charm".
Sadly, my receipts all fade to naught within a year or so. I generally type a little note and keep it in the case. BTW, I love these machines. The touch is lovely AND the Sterling version has a role in my one of my fave episodes of Deep Space Nine :)
Hi, I really like this video. I was wondering what the difference between the silent and the silent-super are?
Very interesting stuff…what is the difference between the silent, Clipper, Sterling?
I love mine but in an ideal world I would change the platen rubber (can't as live in UK and nobody does it here) and the relationship between the anvil and platen is slightly off. This means the hammers hit the platen a little too early so its a bit noisy. I slid some plastic templates behind the removable anvil and it helped a little. I can't figure out how to move the carriage back.
I just got a Smith-Corona Silent today, and I'm so happy to have it! I agree, the colours are very unappealing for most aesthetics, so I will be painting mine. The one I have works really nicely but it has a fair amount of wear to the paint which makes it more justifiable to customize. I wouldn't feel as free to paint a typewriter if it was in perfect condition or a rare model. But fortunately this one is relatively common and could use a new paint job anyways.
Hey Joe!
Always like your videos :)
One question:
You know the @ key?
I wonder when were the 1st typewriters made with that @ key?
And it appears they are more often on QWERTY typewriters than AZERTY typewriters.
At least I what seen yet an AZERTY typewriter with that key.
Do you onow why?
Regards and greetings from Brussels, Belgium ;)
Anyone know where to get one of these? Have looked online and I cannot find one in relatively good condition, and/or a reasonable price... any help would be appreciated, would really like one of these machines.
Adam Mundy Thrift shops are good places. Ebay works well too. On Ebay you have to be EXACT or you don't get what you want.
Joe, I am getting one in great shape but I think it needs a little lubrication to make the carriage move easier. What do you recommend and do you have a video on how to lubricate a typewrite?
I don't yet have a video on the entire process of servicing a typewriter. The type bar slots (called the segment) need to be thoroughly degreased so they operate smoothly without lubrication. Same with the part that lifts the ribbon (called the ribbon vibrator), it needs to be cleaned so it moves freely without lubrication. The carriage rails and bearings need to be degreased and lubricated with light oil like sewing machine oil. Don't over-lubricate a typewriter, it may work in the short term, but the aromatic solvents in many synthetic lubricants will eventually evaporate, and the remaining grease will thicken up and attract dust and grease. And don't use WD40, it's designed for wet environments (water displacement formula 40).
See Phoenix Typewriter UA-cam channel for some great maintenance-oriented typewriter videos.
Where can I purchase a replacement ribbon for this machine? Thanks for the great videos!
There are a number of online sellers, I recommend Ribbons Unlimited.
Thank you for this video! I received one that looks identical to this for my birthday yesterday. I found the model number under the ribbon lid, but not the serial number? Can you direct me to where I might find that?
In the 1950 era Silents the serial number should be under the ribbon cover near the left side where the touch adjustment is located. If not there, it could be somewhere near the carriage rails.
Type writers are super expensive in India, used like around 120$ as a starting price. And there are no antique shops.
Thank you Joe for this informative video! My friend gave me this typewriter for free granted the outer 3 pieces are rusted and disassembled (but I have the small screws). Where your machine says “SILENT” mines says “Sterling”, but besides that they seem to be the same according to your video. I am not sure how to change my ribbon and should I just buy ribbon from amazon?
Yes, you can find ribbons for these on Amazon.
Good afternoon, I would like to know if you have a replacement video, for the naylon cord of the smith corona typewriter, thank you.
I don’t, but check out Phoenix Typewriter channel for great maintenance videos.
Recently bought one and I'm completely new to typewriters. , my ribbon seems to be pretty old, is there a specific type I need to purchase or are they universal? Picked it up for $50 seemed like a good price to me.
Standard half inch cloth ribbons in universal spools will work. You can find all black or black/red.
thank you :)
Troy DalyI just purchased a similar typewriter (SC Classic), however, all of the keys won't move. Is there a key lock I need to disengage?
There is a carriage lock, which you should be able to disengage y pulling the carriage to the right.
Thank you for your reply. The carriage moves back and forth perfectly and the shift, tab and space bar all work. The issue is that none of the keys swing forward. They are all aligned and in place. The machine is well kept and clean. It just seems that there may be a lock on the keys themselves which prevents them from swinging forward to type.
I don't know of such a locking mechanism. I just checked my Galaxie 12 and can't get the keys to lock. I can only surmise that either the universal bar under the machine is seized, or the type bars in the segment are seized with hardened lubricants, or perhaps something sticky was spilled in it and left to dry.
Also, the ribbon spool and ribbon vibrator mechanisms are both driven from the universal bar. Perhaps one of them is seized up. If you remove the ribbon spools, do either spool shaft turn freely? For the ribbon vibrator, does it help if you set the ribbon color to the white stencil position?
Hi Joe, LOVE your videos. I wonder if you could help me identify my Smith Corona. The machine actually says "Super Silent" but the serial number indicates it is a Sterling 1958-59. However, my typewriter has a tabulator button and paper arms which are not on a Sterling. (Confusing). To make it even more confusing, every machine like mine I've looked at has those 3 lines on each side of the ribbon cover like yours does above. Mine does not have those lines. Can you help?
It can be confusing, they made so many models. I’d bet Ted Munk of the typewriter database might have an idea.
@@Joe_VanCleave Thank you for your fast reply, I'll check him out.
Hello, Joe! I have this typewriter, and the ribbon vibrator does not come up for the hammer to strike the ink. What causes this to happen?
I think I fixed it. I just cleaned it and used a little PTFE lubricant on the vibrator and worked it for a bit. Now it seems to be just fine. I just got this one toda! 1954 Silent all green keys and knobs. Looks perfect, but it did not work when I got it this morning. Now it's typing, but I am having a few issues to work on. I tried to find that Repair Bible you had in your video where you discussed the escapement issue on yours, but haven't seen it yet. Love your channel!
Do you what the Deluxe version has that this one does not? Thanks
The return lever would bring me to the next line when I first used it, now it doesn’t. How do I fix this? Thanks.
Check the line spacing lever on the left side of the carriage, also there’s a lever next to it that temporarily disengages the line spacing, make sure it’s engaged. Finally, the metal button in the center of the left platen knob should be pushed in, else the line spacing clutch will be disengaged.
I bought a typewriter that looks very much like this but it is a sears brand. I was told that it was a smith corona rebranded. I can't figure out how to get the ribbon on. None of the videos I've seen look like mine. I can't find a place to hook the ribbon onto the vibrator. Can you please help me?
Is the ribbon vibrator intact? It's the part that raises the ribbon up when you type. The ribbon goes behind the two central vertical parts of the vibrator, closest to the paper, then through those slots in the outer parts of the vibrator. Hard to describe in words.
I think there may be something missing because I dont see any slots on the vibrator to put the ribbon through. Im going to take it to a typewriter repair shop. Thanks for your help.
Hey I need help with my SCM Smith - Corona, I've rotated the ribbon so it's now no longer dry but the pedals aren't reaching the paper??? They get about an inch from the paper.... Can/how can I fix this????
1)Make sure you aren’t all the way at the right margin stop, that can cause the type bars not to fully move. 2) Make sure the carriage centering lock isn’t engaged, you should be able to move the carriage back and forth between the margin stops by using the carriage release levers (behind either platen knob). 3) Try pressing a key, then carefully by hand lift the type bar and you should be able to manually move it all the way to the print position with little or no resistance. If it doesn’t move all the way, something is obstructing the movement, or something has been bent or misaligned.
Sorry I missed the part where you said you did have a super silent.
Hi Joe, you seem to be typing effortlessly on this machine. On my 1956 Smith-Corona Sterling, which I cleaned, it feels quite hard to type (but I'm a novice). The type bars go up very easily up to an inch or so of the platen but need extra pressure to strike, and that's what makes it hard. Is that typical to need this extra pressure, or should the type bars go all the way smoothly, as yours seem to be doing? If so I'm wondering which part should be cleaned further, or even lubricated.
Try adjusting the touch selector which, IIRC, is under the ribbon cover on the left front edge. But usually these need thorough cleaning and degreasing, especially the slots in the segment, but also the universal bar that runs cross-wise to the linkages under the machine. Every type linkage presses this spring-loaded bar, which in turn operates the ribbon lift and ribbon advancement. If anything in those systems is hard to operate, you'll feel it in the keys. Therefore, I'd advise degreasing the ribbon lifter linkages, the ribbon spool turning mechanism, and the pivot points on the universal bar itself. Basically, anything that's moved by the force of the key action could be the cause -- often, it's a combination of all of them being a little stiff.
There's also the fact that manual typing doesn't use the same muscles as keyboarding, it requires a snappy touch -- the velocity of the type bar is important to a good imprint. Therefore I'd advise using a two-fingered typing technique, since most of us don't have fingers strong enough to rapidly touch-type on these kinds of machines; that's a skill learned only through repeated exercise.
Good luck with your machine.
Thanks, Joe! I,m learning so much from your vid's. I love the color of this era Corona's, I,m having a problem deciding betwen this machine, and the 1960 Torpedo 18, do you have any suggestions?Thanks again!
I haven't tried a Torpedo 18 - they're rarer than the Smith-Coronas. For that reason I'd be tempted to go with one, even as good as the Smiths are. If you're not satisfied, you can still find a SC Silent down the road. No harm in having more than one machine, right?!
One thing that struck me right away was the "BROWNISH" coloring of the space bar. I've NEVER seen that on any other machine.Could it have been "customized" by order of the owner?
I'm no typewriter expert, but I'm almost positive that the brown space bar (and perfectly matching brown platen knobs) came that way from the factory. I really doubt they were repainted by the owner; they just don't have that "repainted" look.
Thanks for this review. I have this typewriter. It was my father's. The keys seem to be locked. Can you tell me how to unlock the keys?
On many manual typewriters, if the typing position is at the right margin it will prevent the keys from working. The right margin could be set inward toward the middle, causing this problem. Try resetting the right margin to the far right, or also try pressing the margin release (M.R.) key to release it.
Also, if the carriage lock is engaged this could also be the cause.
Smith-Corona Silent
Hello, I just picked up one of these at a estate sale this would be my first typewriter cant wait to use it but it needs a cleaning could you tell me what i should use on it some say mineral spirits other degreaser, alcohol want to make the right choice Thank you for any help
Start with 91% alcohol, if it needs more thorough degreasing then use lacquer thinner. Be careful not to splatter these solvents on the paint or plastic parts. Cover them with rags. Use an air compressor to blow out the solvent onto a rag under the machine, the idea being to dissolve the gunk and carry it away with the solvent before it evaporates. Good luck!
@@Joe_VanCleave Thank you, I found your video's on this typewriter very informative 👍
What is the cause of blurry printing? Maybe the quality of the ink?
It may need a new ribbon.
@@Joe_VanCleave thank you for your reply. 🌹🌹
@@user-tz2px4eo9c 🌹🌹
I want dis type of typewriter. we are Andhra Pradesh state
I found mine for $5 at a thrift store
Harmon o'hanlon
holy sh- *awkward laughter*
So why is it called a Silent? Is there still a margin bell?
think i heard it @6:45
Yes, still has a margin bell. I think the differences between the Silent/Silent-Super and others in the 5 series, in terms of sound, were minimal. I suspect more of a marketing ploy.
I have a SC Sterling
How much cost this typewriter
This was misnomer wasn't it? As far as I know... NO TYPEWRITER RUNS COMPLETELY "SILENTLY". Quite the opposite in fact!
It might make less of a "CLICKETY-CLACKING" noise but it WON'T be "silent".
If it was engineered well? If it had a real "heft" to it? If it had a bit of internal foam insulation? That might dampen the operational sound a bit but "SILENT"???
NOPE!!!
No, SILENT is not a “misnomer” - it’s merely a name. Smith-Corona wanted folks to know this machine was QUIETER than many competing typewriters, so the copywriter was tasked with the job of coming up with a simple name that would convey that. Obviously, the “Smith-Corona QUIETER” or “Smith-Corona Not Quite As Loud” would be poor names, so SILENT it is. In marketing, names are often NOT literal; they’re just names. The Eastern Airlines “WhisperJet” made quite a lot of noise, “touchless car washes” do, in fact, touch your car (but not as much as the other kind), and baseball’s “Shoeless Joe” Jackson usually wore shoes. Get it now?
Why, why, why do people talk when they do a typing test on a typewriter showcase video. Good video, but dayum I just wanna hear the machine in action, give me your thoughts any other time!